A June 5 opinion piece in United Methodist Insight titled “New U.S. Travel Ban Will Harm the United Methodist Church” raises concerns about the potential impact of the travel ban on the worldwide church.

Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry work with mission partners and educational leaders in over 60 countries and have missionaries and regional staff serving in several countries on the list. 

“This travel ban is discriminatory and will certainly increase suffering and limit opportunity for the church’s work, not unlike recent funding cuts,” said Roland Fernandes, who serves as general secretary for both agencies. “We call on the current U.S. administration to reconsider this policy decision so our work in mission and ministry can continue unimpeded.”

Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry reaffirm our commitment to serving alongside communities worldwide and we stand against policies that obstruct the global mission of The United Methodist Church.

Read United Methodist Insight’s opinion piece here.

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Atlanta — Roland Fernandes, general secretary of the General Boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church, joined more than 500 higher education and other UM-related school leaders in signing “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” a statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) defending the essential freedoms of U.S. colleges and universities against political interference and coercive government overreach.

“As leaders of America’s colleges, universities and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach…,” the statement reads, while affirming support for legitimate oversight and constructive reform.

Fernandes also noted John Wesley’s advocacy for knowledge as a right for everyone, and to empower individuals to make informed decisions and contribute positively to society.  In a recent statement in support of the Department of Education, Fernandes said: “The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church describe the denomination’s continuing commitment to the importance of education as a fundamental human right. These principles forcefully encourage and promote efforts to eliminate barriers to education, such as poverty, discrimination and inadequate resources.”

The United Methodist Church has a historic legacy of advocating for inclusive, accessible education—values that align with the AAC&U’s mission to advance equity, innovation and excellence in liberal education.

Wendy R. Cromwell is senior manager of digital engagement for Global Ministries and UMCOR. 

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ATLANTA – The Korean United Methodist Church has achieved its goal to provide covenant relationship support for the work of 140 Global Missionaries over a three-year period. This extraordinary commitment was first announced in May 2024 at the UMC General Conference and reflects the Korean UMC’s ongoing dedication to supporting global mission work.

During a Mar. 25-26, 2025, visit to Atlanta for a meeting of the Asian American Language Ministry (AALM) at Global Ministries’ offices in Atlanta, the Rev. Changmin Lee, president of the Korean Association of the UMC, presented the Korean UMC’s first check to Global Ministries’ general secretary, Roland Fernandes.

“I am so excited! On behalf of the Korean Association of the UMC, we are thrilled to support more than 140 missionaries,” Rev. Lee said. “This is a great example of our partnership with Global Ministries through this support of missionaries.”

Roland Fernandes expressed his gratitude to Rev. Lee for the Korean United Methodist Church’s commitment to mission service. “We are deeply grateful for the faithful generosity and missional spirit of the Korean United Methodist Church,” he said. “This partnership is a powerful testament to our shared commitment to spreading the love of Christ through mission and service. The impact of these missionaries will be felt around the world.”

United Methodist missionaries embody the church’s commitment to global mission, serving in long-term, cross-cultural contexts. Missionaries come to service in many types of professional careers, including as pastors, evangelists and church coordinators; teachers and educators; doctors, nurses and other health workers; agriculturists; development specialists; community organizers and peacebuilders.

Learn more about information about Global Ministries’ missionary programs here.

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ATLANTA — Haley M. Reardon joined the General Board of Global Ministries and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry as chief development officer on March 24, 2025. Reporting to General Secretary Roland Fernandes, Reardon leads both agencies in advancing their global work through strategic fundraising and donor engagement.

Reardon is a bilingual fundraising professional with over a decade of experience in nonprofit development, donor relations and major gift fundraising. She has served on the development team at Emory University’s School of Medicine since May 2020, most recently as director of development.

At Emory, she successfully led philanthropic initiatives that resulted in endowed professorships and programs, as well as increased alumni giving. She consistently exceeded fundraising goals. Prior to Emory, she worked in fundraising at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she strengthened donor engagement, expanded giving programs and led development teams to new levels of success.

Reardon holds a Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham-Southern College and a Master of Divinity from Emory’s Candler School of Theology. Following her graduation from Candler, she served for several years as a licensed local pastor at Pleasant View Charge of The United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Haley as our chief development officer,” said General Secretary Roland Fernandes. “Her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, and strategic philanthropy, combined with her experience in higher education and understanding of The United Methodist Church, make her a perfect choice for this role. This is a time of great need in the world, and we look forward to the expertise Haley will bring to advancing our fund development work in service to the church and the world.”

As a senior leader, Reardon will oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of comprehensive fundraising initiatives designed to support the work of education, ministry, mission, and humanitarian and development work, among other programs. She will lead efforts to cultivate major gifts, planned giving, direct response, digital fundraising and disaster response fundraising. Additionally, she will develop and strengthen relationships with key donors and stakeholders, working with board and agency leadership.

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ATLANTA – Central to many faith traditions is the call to welcome the stranger and care for those in need. From a theological and faith perspective, the Trump administration’s immigration policies raise troubling ethical concerns that challenge core religious values of compassion, love and welcome.

Sweeping measures, framed as deporting illegal migrant criminals, are effectively criminalizing and terrorizing ALL migrant communities in the U.S., regardless of legal status.

Border security policies that set aside humanitarian considerations fail to recognize the plight of individuals fleeing violence and persecution. Such actions undermine our moral obligation to offer refuge and support to those seeking safety and a better life.

Economically, immigrants contribute to our communities and serve vital roles in various industries, driving growth and innovation. Many have been in this country for years. They are most often seen as gifts to our communities, not threats. By forcibly removing them and restricting entry for others, we diminish the richness and diversity they bring, which is counter to the belief that all people are created in the image of God and deserve dignity and opportunity.

Global Ministries condemns these actions, which disregard the fundamental dignity and rights of migrants, many of whom are families in need of our concern and care.

Additionally, the divisive rhetoric often accompanying these policies is antithetical to the teachings of love and unity found in many faiths, leading to increased intolerance and hatred of migrants in the U.S. We must advocate for a more compassionate and inclusive approach to immigration that reflects the gospel, values all lives as sacred and promotes justice and peace.

Instead of fostering division, we should focus on building bridges and advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that embodies compassion, justice, and the inherent worth of every person.

In Deuteronomy 10:18-19, we are reminded of God’s love for the foreigner, who is given food and clothing, and we are called to do the same: “And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

God calls us to welcome the stranger. We must commit to build a future where compassion and justice prevail regardless of passport status.

We reaffirm our call on individuals, pastors and local churches to take immediate action:

• Pray: Uphold the protection and well-being of migrants in your prayers, and seeking bold leadership from communities and policymakers.
• Volunteer: Connect with local organizations such as Church World Service or the Immigration Law and Justice Network to assist nearby affiliates.
• Support Projects: Apply for Mustard Seed Migration Grants of $2,000 to aid migrants in your community. Learn more and apply here.
• Learn: Join this Feb. 10 webinar organized by Church and Society and others to learn about the UM response to immigration justice.  Learn more and register here.
• Advocate: Contact elected officials to express your support for migrant rights and sign up for Church World Service Action Alerts  for advocacy opportunities.
• Donate: Contribute to the Global Migration Advance (#3022144) to support programs that aids migrants and refugees. Give here.

Roland Fernandes is the general secretary of Global Ministries, UMCOR, and Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.

Learn more about migration ministry and programming through Global Ministries and UMCOR.

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ATLANTA – Supporting migrants and refugees is fundamental to the work of Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Since its founding in 1940 during World War II, UMCOR has consistently stood alongside displaced people across the globe, assisting those impacted by war, civil unrest and manmade and natural disasters.

As the United States faces potential large-scale immigration policy changes, including the likely mass deportation of thousands of migrants, Global Ministries and UMCOR will prioritize protecting migrants’ rights, reaffirming a longstanding commitment to core humanitarian principles. We will intensify efforts to amplify the voices of migrants and create pathways for integration. Through comprehensive programs spanning global advocacy, church engagement, legal support and practical assistance, Global Ministries and UMCOR will continue to provide hope and support to those most vulnerable in their journey to safety and opportunity.

There are several ways that individuals, pastors and local churches can get involved in ministry with migrants and refugees:

• Pray for the protection and well-being of migrants, for bold leadership and for positive action on the part of individuals, churches and communities.    
• Volunteer with local organizations in your community. Contact Church World Service, Immigration Law and Justice Network or similar organizations to see how you can assist the affiliate nearest you.
• Implement a Mustard Seed Migration Grant project to assist migrants in your own community. Applications for grants of $2,000 will be accepted up to December 13, 2024. Learn more and apply here.
• Contact your elected officials to let them know that you welcome migrants. You can sign up for Church World Service Action Alerts to learn how to become involved in advocacy efforts that support migrant rights.
• Donate to the Global Migration Advance (#3022144) to support programming that aids migrants and refugees. Give here.

Grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ, Global Ministries and UMCOR alleviates human suffering without regard to race, religion or status. We believe that welcoming the stranger is essential to The United Methodist Church.

Roland Fernandes is the general secretary of Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Learn more about migration ministry and programming through Global Ministries and UMCOR.

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ATLANTA – The 2023 Annual Report for Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is now available. The report focuses on the main programmatic themes of 2023, taken from Hebrews 10:24, and describes many ways that the work of mission extends both love and service throughout the world. Continuing work on four main mission priorities – humanitarian relief and recovery; missionaries; evangelism and church revitalization; and global health – Global Ministries and UMCOR further defined the main tenets of their work to serve alongside communities in need of partners to improve their lives.

Through an opening letter from leadership, impact stories, quotes from beneficiaries and statistics on the projects, places and people served, readers get a quick view of the goals and accomplishments of 2023.

In order to encourage and serve alongside one another more intentionally, 2023 became a year of deep listening for Global Ministries, discerning the needs, concerns and joys of partners through strategic consultations. Listening cultivated learning among staff, missionaries and partner organizations and spurred new ways of connecting. This helped participants to more clearly see God’s presence in the places where their work intersected.

We wish to thank our steadfast partners, the individuals, churches and conferences that support mission work with prayer, curiosity and contributions. Read how Global Ministries and UMCOR share the love of God and serve God’s people with the support you provide.

View, download and share the full annual report here.

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Location —

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Roland Fernandes, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has assumed leadership of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), effective July 1, 2024. Fernandes has served since the fall of 2020 as general secretary of GBGM and UMCOR, the denomination’s mission and humanitarian relief agency. He has been with GBGM and UMCOR since 1996, filling many key leadership roles.

In October 2023, Fernandes was appointed general secretary of GBHEM by a unanimous vote of their board of directors. The GBGM board unanimously affirmed the appointment in the weeks following (read announcement here). He is taking on the chief executive position following Greg Bergquist’s retirement on June 30, 2024; Bergquist served as GBHEM’s general secretary for more than five years.

Fernandes and Bergquist began their collaboration in early 2022 when both agencies engaged in collaborative consultations, including possible future alignment. Teams comprised of program staff from both agencies were created in the areas of scholarships, granting, leadership formation and training, theology of mission and regional work to explore potential alignment between the two agencies. The agencies’ boards have signed an agreement for future missional, program, and operational alignment.

Reflecting on his role at GBHEM Bergquist said, “As I reflect on my final year as general secretary of GBHEM, I see an agency poised to achieve remarkable contributions in education and leadership formation, ​​and I extend my gratitude to GBHEM’s constituencies, staff, Board of Directors, collaborative partners, and friends. Their unwavering support, valuable insights, and dedication have enabled GBHEM to fulfill its mission and uphold its values on behalf of the church and the academy. I am delighted that Roland will assume the executive leadership at GBHEM, and I am sure he will advance the connectional, contextual and collaborative solutions that will support the emerging expression of the United Methodist tradition and the transformative educational mission of the church.”

Speaking of his new role, Fernandes said, “I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve God through the church at a time such as this. I look forward to working with the collaborative partners, boards, and staff of both agencies to lead GBGM and GBHEM in these transformative times for The United Methodist Church and the world. We shall continue to listen to God’s call into this joint mission and respond to the church’s needs and aspirations, aligning our ministry together for more relevance and effectiveness. I am grateful to Greg for sharing this vision of greater missional alignment between our two agencies.”   

GBHEM board chair Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball echoed Fernandes’ sentiments about the future of the agency, “The work that Roland and Greg have already accomplished, aligning the mission and ministry of GBGM and GBHEM, will prepare both agencies for the future. I am thankful for Greg’s unswerving dedication to GBHEM and Roland’s willingness to accept this new opportunity to lead us into a new age, bringing the love and hope of Christ to our world.” 

The boards of both agencies will meet together in Nashville, Tennessee this fall, which will continue their ongoing conversations and process of discovering new opportunities for missional and strategic alignment to better serve the worldwide connectional church of the UMC.

Susan Clark serves as chief communications officer for the Boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry.

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